[England] Post-6N/Pre-RWC Player Watch

[yaboyjj]

Nowell is imo our best winger currently, Watson I see as having more of a future at 15. Not sure Yarde or May will ever convince me, Lexington looks like he has good potential though. For me, I'd like to see Roko and Nowell starting as long as Roko continues his form over the last couple of matches, as they're probably our best 2. That leaves Watson free to go at 23, and if we have Farrell at 22 you can cover all backline positions reasonably well (Nowell covers 13, Watson 11/14/15 and Farrell 10/12).

I think Yarde can still come good, he just had an early season slump in form- he was good in NZ and will in time (hopefully) iron out the defensive errors. I'm not happy with Watson on the wing really and he'd be best fighting it out for the 15 shirt (he doesn't seem to come looking for work off the wing and his support lines haven't been great). I still don't think Roko is anywhere near his early season form, but I agree that Nowell is probably a shoe in atm as the most well rounded wing (a real speed merchant on the right wing would balance him quite well).

I'm secretly hoping for an England XV of:

Mullan, Yeandle, Brookes, Launch, ?, Ewers, Kvesic, Clifford, Simpson, Slade, Lewington, Hill, Daly, Wade, Pennell

..for the Baabaas (notionally excluding Bath/Leic/Norts/Sarries players because of possible prem final)

 

[Raggs]

Although ATM I don't like It in terms of what it would mean. imagine a back row of:

6) Vunipola
7) Armitage
8) Hughes

Would destroy most teams

Itoje on the bench. I may take Kvesic over Armitage though, think he'd allow for us to play the more expansive high paced game more easily.

If you want to go a little bit silly in the pack.

Mako, Youngs, Brookes
Slater, Attwood
Vunipola, Armitage, Hughes

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think Yarde can still come good, he just had an early season slump in form- he was good in NZ and will in time (hopefully) iron out the defensive errors. I'm not happy with Watson on the wing really and he'd be best fighting it out for the 15 shirt (he doesn't seem to come looking for work off the wing and his support lines haven't been great). I still don't think Roko is anywhere near his early season form, but I agree that Nowell is probably a shoe in atm as the most well rounded wing (a real speed merchant on the right wing would balance him quite well).

I'm secretly hoping for an England XV of:

Mullan, Yeandle, Brookes, Launch, ?, Ewers, Kvesic, Clifford, Simpson, Slade, Lewington, Hill, Daly, Wade, Pennell

..for the Baabaas (notionally excluding Bath/Leic/Norts/Sarries players because of possible prem final)

I reckon Beaumont will be involved - either in the donkey row or at 8.
He already travelled with the Saxons, to Ireland, as a reserve 8.

 

[yaboyjj]

I reckon Beaumont will be involved - either in the donkey row or at 8.
He already travelled with the Saxons, to Ireland, as a reserve 8.

Yes possibly, I think it may be a toss up between him and Clifford at 8 (after the lineout debacle last time out), I'm unsure if Launch will be re-introduced at this stage, but I think Gaskell played for Saxons last time out, Savage, Mathews, as other contenders for lock?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Myall and Gaskell have been around the saxons for a while so I'd expect to see one, or both, of them in the 23.

Launchbury and Itoje in the row? They've said that the Baabaas squad will be seperate to the EPS but Launch will need game time.

 

[yaboyjj]

Myall and Gaskell have been around the saxons for a while so I'd expect to see one, or both, of them in the 23.

Launchbury and Itoje in the row? They've said that the Baabaas squad will be seperate to the EPS but Launch will need game time.

On second thoughts, I doubt they'd risk injury to Launch before the training camp.
Launch, Itoje, Ewers, Kvesic, Clifford- would be a very dynamic and young pack though (massive breakdown presence)

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Looks like both Slater and Launch will be featuring against each other this weekend.

Good news for Englands locks if both can prove fitness in terms of overall depth.

 

[yaboyjj]

Looks like both Slater and Launch will be featuring against each other this weekend.

Good news for Englands locks if both can prove fitness in terms of overall depth.

I knew that Launch was, but I didn't know Slater was back- thats good news. I wonder if they'll come off the bench or start.
I guess that the third lock spot in the WC is still up for grabs, what with Attwood off form. If Slater can show good form in the play-offs and play in a warm up match then I guess he could potentially leap frog Parling and Kruis also... (unlikely, but could happen)

 

[Raggs]

Launch is on the bench, and I'd bet a lot of money there'll be 4 locks in the RWC squad. Slater is after Attwoods place.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Dave Wilson's playing on the weekend vs Quins, starting apparently. Excellent news

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Dave Wilson's playing on the weekend vs Quins, starting apparently. Excellent news

Yep having said that Cole has been good for us and offers a breakdown threat that Wilson doesn't. It really showed having Cole at the breakdown again last 6N.

 

[Raggs]

Cole wasn't even at his best then either, been getting sharper and sharper. I think Dave Wilson is going to start losing ground soon. He'll likely make the squad for the RWC, but Brookes offers the carrying threat, and Thomas is excellent all round, and has finally sorted his scrummaging (looks a lot bigger to me).

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Cole wasn't even at his best then either, been getting sharper and sharper. I think Dave Wilson is going to start losing ground soon. He'll likely make the squad for the RWC, but Brookes offers the carrying threat, and Thomas is excellent all round, and has finally sorted his scrummaging (looks a lot bigger to me).

Although I'd be happy for Thomas or Brookes to be coming off the bench, if Cole wasn't available I'd still rather have Wilson as a starter. I rate him as a scrummager slightly above Cole, but they haven't played at the same time for so long it's tricky to compare the two. Any news on how Sinckler's getting on at Quins?

 

[chippieolamus]

I see Wilson as our 2nd best TH, I quite like strong scrummaging props coming off the bench to help gain a scrum advantage towards the end of the game, especially considering other teams tend to bring on specialist carrying props who may not be as good in the scrum.

On the topic of Wilson, its nice to see our injured players coming back at just the right time (Launchbury, Tuilagi, Wilson), hopefully they can use the last couple of matches and the pre wc training camp to gain fitness yet they will be fresh having all had 3-6 month layoffs.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Jeeze, people have really forgotten how good Wilson was before his injury!
I mean, people were questioning whether Cole would get back into the XV, and now it's being questioned whether Wilson has a place in the 23?!


Wilson's in my 23 every day of the week - probably on the bench, just because Cole's breakdown work is so excellent and I'd like 60mins of that. However in a world cup you need to rotate so both will get their fair share of starts, and having two world class tightheads is a luxury most nations won't have.

 

[Raggs]

I think it was more people forgetting how good Cole was, or not expecting him to return to those peaks. Wilson is very good in the scrum, but so is Cole. Wilson offers a bit of carrying, but not amazing at it. He's a solid international, and won't really let you down, but for me Brookes and Thomas both have the potential to exceed him, and soon.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Interesting to see Parling starting at blindside for Leicester. Could anyone see him there for England? Just chucking that out there.

 

[yaboyjj]

Interesting to see Parling starting at blindside for Leicester. Could anyone see him there for England? Just chucking that out there.

Not if you don't want to see a repeat of Cardiff 2013.
Thinking about the Wasps match, Thorne, Parling, Slater and Launch have all had some game time at blindside- probably only Slater has the physicality to pull it off effectively (ditto Itoje)

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Not if you don't want to see a repeat of Cardiff 2013.
Thinking about the Wasps match, Thorne, Parling, Slater and Launch have all had some game time at blindside- probably only Slater has the physicality to pull it off effectively (ditto Itoje and Kruis)

Interesting. I've never really considered lock to be a less physical position than flanker- it's been pointed out before that a lot of why second rows carry, ruck and tackle less is due to masses of energy used in scrums, mauls, etc- but I suppose it is now, with the constant search for "athleticism".

 

[chippieolamus]

If Nathan Hughes does, as assumed, choose to become available for England next year, who would people pick for the 8 shirt, and then who would you have on the bench (if you put an 8 on the bench)? Morgan, Vunipola and Hughes are all quality players.